Carthage names Yeager head coach

Mike Yeager had the interim
label removed from his Carthage title.
Carthage photo by Mike Gryniewicz

Carthage athletic director Robert Bonn named Mike Yeager
Carthage's head football coach on Dec. 6. Yeager completed his
second year as Carthage's defensive coordinator in 2012 and served
as interim head coach for the Red Men's final three games.

Yeager is the 21st Carthage football coach since the program
began in 1895.

"Coach Yeager has exceptional coaching experience under some of
the very special football coaching mentors in the country," said
Bonn. Combining his football background with his knowledge of
Carthage, our athletic program, the College Conference of Illinois
and Wisconsin, and most importantly, our football players, makes
him uniquely qualified to be our next football coach."

Before joining Carthage in 2011, Yeager was an assistant coach
at Indiana for five years from 2006 to 2010, three years coaching
the safeties and two years with the linebackers. He was a graduate
assistant for the Hoosiers in 2005.

Prior to his arrival at Indiana, Yeager spent five years as an
assistant coach at Wooster. He started as the Scots' wide receivers
coach in 2000 and 2001 before moving to special teams
coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2002 and defensive coordinator
in 2003 and 2004.

A native of Cincinnati, Yeager lettered three times at
linebacker at Miami (Ohio) between 1996 and 1999. As a senior, he
was third on the team in tackles (116) and tied for the team lead
in interceptions (3). He graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's in
sport organization. He and his wife, Katrin, have a daughter, Rylan
(age three).

"My family and I want to thank everyone at Carthage for this
great opportunity," said Yeager. "I would also like to thank Coach
Rucks for bringing me on board two years ago. Carthage is a very
special place, and I am honored to take on the challenge of leading
our football program. I am confident we will bring great pride to
Carthage players, students and alumni through our performance and
focus on the field, in the classroom and in the community."